Senate Republicans Back Mitch McConnell After Health Incident

WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans closed ranks around Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, brushing off questions about his ability to continue in his job after he froze for about 20 seconds at a press conference on Wednesday.

The incident had raised concerns about the well-being of the 81-year-old Kentucky Republican, who has been Senate Republican leader since 2007. In January, he became the longest serving Senate leader in history, having driven the party’s policy priorities and political strategy through more than 16 turbulent years of intense polarization on Capitol Hill.

Recently, McConnell has been laser focused on promoting aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia, and has tried to steer the Republican Party away from the America-first isolationism championed by former President Donald Trump.

At his weekly press conference on Wednesday, McConnell stopped speaking abruptly and briefly left before returning to take questions. He said he was fine and laughed at a question about who might succeed him as leader. Later, he met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.), attended a Major League Baseball reception, returned to the Senate floor for votes and chatted with colleagues. On Thursday, he met with the prime minister of Italy, gave a speech on the Senate floor, voted, met with constituents and attended lunch with other GOP senators. 

McConnell suffered a concussion in March, which resulted from a fall at a hotel during a private dinner. McConnell also suffered a rib fracture. His office declined to comment Thursday on whether McConnell had seen a doctor after the Wednesday incident. It also declined to comment on media reports that he has fallen two previous times, but confirmed that McConnell, who had polio as a child, sometimes uses a wheelchair at the airport as a precaution in crowded spaces.

“He’s still playing four dimensional chess up here when it comes to politics, and I think he’s in amazing shape, all things considered, right now,” said Sen. Roger Marshall (R., Kan.), an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R., La.) said he is not aware of any conversations in the Republican conference to plan a post-McConnell era. “I don’t think there’s any indication that we need that right now.” 

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R., Wyo.) said McConnell hasn’t given his colleagues any sign that he is on his way out, and she said there is no need to talk about replacing him. “I fully support him,” Lummis said. “I know that when he feels that he wants to throw in the towel, he’ll let us know, and I have complete confidence that he is going to keep us informed.”

Even some Republican senators who have been known to butt heads with McConnell wouldn’t say he should step aside because of his age or health.

Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.), who unsuccessfully challenged McConnell as leader in November, stayed away from speculation about future leadership. Asked whether he is still interested in the Senate GOP leader job, Scott said, “I’m not thinking about that right now. I’ve got an election.”

“I didn’t vote for him for leader, so you know, if you’re asking me what my preference is, my preference would be for different leadership,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.), who voted for Scott over McConnell last year. 

“But that doesn’t really have anything to do with his health at the moment,” Hawley said.

Write to Lindsay Wise at [email protected]